Anderlecht coach Felice Mazzu was left to rue a ‘world class’ Alphonse Areola save during their 1-0 UEFA Conference League defeat to West Ham United on Thursday night, speaking to Belgian publication RTBF.
Football, as they say, is so often a game of fine margins.
That time-honoured cliché certainly rang true during a hard-fought encounter at Lotto Park; substitute Gianluca Scamacca and goalkeeper Alphonse Areola producing two moments of high quality at either end as David Moyes’ side made it three wins from three in the group-stages.
“It’s really a pity,” Mazzu sighs at full-time. “We really have nothing to reproach the players for in terms of desire, intensity, and organisation.
“It’s true that we didn’t create a lot of chance but we were playing West Ham. It must be remembered that the players believed throughout the match. This intensity that they have put in today must serve us for the future. We will need it.”
Scamacca and Areola shine in West Ham United win
After Scamacca swept a clever Lucas Paqueta pass into the back of the Anderlecht net with his weaker right foot, Areola denied Wolves loanee Fabio Silva at the death with an outstanding reflex save from point-blank range. Fine margins, after all.
“The goalkeeper makes a world-class save,” Mazzu adds. “In a more positive moment, perhaps the ball would have gone in.”
Scamacca now has five goals in 11 games for the Hammers, building on that thumping volley in the 2-0 triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday evening. Paqueta also grabbed his first West Ham assist on Belgian soil.
When (Scamacca) came on, he helped us,” explains Moyes, who was also full of praise for an impressive Flynn Downes display on a rare start for the ex-Swansea City playmaker.
“Flynn Downes played really well tonight. I thought him and Jarrod (Bowen) were really good. And the goalkeeper made a couple of great saves. But Flynn has given is something to think about.
“He’s only just starting to get the feel of it in training. He’s beginning to get used to what we want. He did a really good job tonight, Flynn.”
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